Generally, the native people of Papua are divided into those living on the coasts and on the mountains. Initially, they lived in harmony, but the condition had changed during the entrance of culture, politics and man to Papua, especially during the New Order.
Regent of Jayawijaya, Wempi Wetipo, S.H., M.H., said during the New Order, the mountain people were marginalised, having negative label contrary to the coastal people.
“The dichotomy between coast and mountain has actually disadvantaged Papua in having outlook of the future,” said he on Thursday (31/3) in University Club (UC) UGM during a book launch, Mountain Versus Coast he has written with Marthen Medlama, Sp.d.
Wempi said the negative perception of each other had brought a conflict. Certain people had made use of this, making a gap between the two groups.
“Currently, however, this dichotomy is disappearing. The stereotype and diversity of Papua have instead become the unifier of the region to keep in pace with others,” he said.
Wempi in the book asked his readers to know more about the facts and hidden conflict that may trigger for a disturbance of peace in Papua. He also gave tips to build a new generation that is not discriminating.
“This book is written to open the fact and ask readers to know that Papua is one. It’s time to cast aside the stereotiype of mountain and coasts and keep developing Papua under the single spirit,” he said.
In the event hosted by Jayawijaya local government and UGM Centre for Peace and Security Studies, other speakers were Prof.Dr. Sigit Riyanto, S.H., LL.M., and Chairman of Politics Doctoral Programme at Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Prof. Purwo Santoso, M.A., Ph.D.